Timing light



h 19% R. GRAVES 2511732 TIMING LIGHT Filed April 8, 1946 Fig .7

Patented Aug. 1, 1950 OFFICE 2,517,302 'rnvmvc LIGHT Richard Graves, Minneapolis, Minn; Application April 8, 1946, Serial No. 660,836

The present invention relates to a timing light or electrical tester used for timing an automobile motor or similar power machine.

The present invention has for its principal object to provide an electrically operated timing instrument designed for use in connection with the setting of the distributor of an internal combustion engine, which is of simple construction and may be employed without difiiculty by any Ordinary motor vehicle mechanic for the purpose of determining whether or not the distributor mechanism of the motor vehicle is properly set or adjusted for delivering the desired electric current impulse to the spark plugs in the engine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character stated which employs a pair of indicator lights of different current requirements, which are hooked up or joined in a novel manner whereby, when the device is connected as required with the motor vehicle battery, the distributor breaker arm, and a ground, the light requiring the greater amount of current for energization will be put in circuit with the battery through the breaker arm when the distributor points are closed and, when the distributor points are open the current from the battery will be caused to flow through the two lamps in series whereby the other lamp requiring the smaller amount of electric current will be illuminated to indicate the opened condition of the breaker points.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing, wherein like numerals relate to the same details in the different views:

Figure 1 is a side view, half in elevation and half in section of the tester and conductors in about full size;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the same in smaller scale and Figure 3 is a wiring diagram therefor.

Reference numeral l denotes a tubular casing of a size for comfortably carrying in the hand. One end of the casing is closed by a transverse partition ll of insulating material carrying means for attachment thereon, on the forward or outer side thereof, of a small electric bulb [2 of about 10 candle power and requiring a small amount of current for its illumination, surrounded by a reflector I3 and covered by a lens or glass disk l4, thus providing a practically closed small chamber l5 at one end of the casing ID. A cap it is detachably connected with the forward end of the casing and protects these parts from injury. 0n the back of the partition H means is provided for the mounting of a larger 1 Claim. (01. 175-183) electric bulb I! of about 21 candle power and requiring a greater amount of current for its illumination than the bulb l2, to be enclosed in the large rear chamber [8 of said casing Ill. The casing is preferably made of plastic material and if the casing is transparent, the burning of the bulb I I can be observed from the outside. If the casing is non-transparent, a series of small apertures l9 are provided in the casing adjacent the larger bulb IT for the same purpose.

With the aid of the wiring diagram in Figure 3, the use and operation of the instrument will be readily understood. Three electric conductors are provided and run through the pointed rear end 25 of the casing Ill. The first conductor 20 is intended for connecting one side of the filament of lamp I! with the positive pole of a battery 2| having its negative pole grounded.

A second conductor 22 connects the other side of the filament of bulb H and one side of the filament of bulb l2 through the base contacts of the bulbs, with the distributor breaker arm 23, while the other side of the filament of bulb I2, is grounded to the motor or any other metal part by means of the conductor 24.

With the motor at rest, and the flywheel of the motor set on the timing mark, the ends of the conductors are connected as follows: Con.- ductor numbered 20 is attached to the positive pole of battery 21, conductor 22 is connected to the distributor breaker arm and conductor 2G is connected to ground. If the breaker points are closed the inside bulb H of the instrument will light. Thereupon the entire distributor unit should be turned slowly counter-clockwise, the operator meanwhile watching the bulbs until bulb l1 goes out and the bulb I2 lights. The two bulbs will not burn together as the current requirements of the two will be greater than that supplied. The current runs from the battery 2i along the conductors 20 and 2 2 to distributor. If the distributor points are closed, bulb l1 lights, but if the points are open the current continues through the bulb l2 to ground, whereupon bulb I 1 goes out and bulb 12 lights. When bulb l2 burns this indicates that the motor is properly adjusted and the distributor structure is then secured against movement, in the customary manner. If a recheck is desired, the motor is turned over slowly while the light i pointed on flywheel mark and the bulb lights will change just as the mark goes by the pointer. It is not necessary to run the motor in order to get the timing and the operator does not have to see the distributor points opening or closing as the light will show the timing.

Changes in detail from the form of the invention herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth by the subjoined claim.

I claim:

A testing instrument of the character described comprising a long tubular body forming a casing,

an end Wall across one end of the tubular body,

4 pendent electric conductors each connected with the other side of the filament of one lamp only, said casing wall being constructed in the part thereof surrounding a lamp in the casing to show the illumination of the incandescent lamp positioned within the casing, the opposite end of the casing body being formed for the passage of the conductors therethrough.

RICHARD GRAVES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,453,635 Morris May 1, 1923 1,528,709 Trimble Mar. 3, 1925 1,909,712 Oppegaard May 16, 1933 39 2,186,212 Scoggin Jan. 9, 1940 Makuh June 13, 1944 

